Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
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EMU Women's Basketball Escapes Miami, 70-61
2/16/2022 9:35:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Skanes recorded double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds
Postgame Presser | Photo Gallery
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) -- The Eastern Michigan University women's basketball escaped Miami University for the home victory, 70-61, tonight, Feb. 16, inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
The Eagles were led by redshirt senior Areanna Combs (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Oklahoma State)) with 19 points, hitting 7-of-16 shots from the field. Additionally, classmate Danielle Rainey (Washington, D.C.-Vista Ridge (Florida)) added 14 points, while redshirt sophomore Ce'Nara Skanes (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West (Florida International)) tacked on 10. Junior Natalia Pineda (Miami, Fla.-John A. Ferguson) paced the team in assists with three.
Defensively, Skanes led all players with 13 rebounds and tied her career-high in blocks with three. Meanwhile, junior Juanita Agosto (Seattle, Wash.-Garfield) and freshman ZaNiya Nelson (Oklahoma City, Okla.-Putnam City West) both recorded three swipes. In total, Eastern Michigan out-rebounded Miami, 42-39.
How It Happened
After falling behind 2-0, Eastern Michigan went on a 12-0 run with 7:58 left in the first quarter, culminating in a three from Rainey to take a 12-2 lead. The Eagles then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with a 19-12 advantage. EMU capitalized on five Miami turnovers in the period, turning them into seven points on the other end of the floor.
Eastern kept its first quarter advantage intact before going on a 13-0 run starting at the 9:23 mark in the second period, increasing its lead to 32-14. The RedHawks cut into that lead, but the Eagles still enjoyed a 38-27 advantage heading into halftime. Eastern Michigan dominated in the paint, scoring 12 of its 19 points close to the basket.
The Green and White continued to preserve its halftime lead before going on a 10-0 run, punctuated by a basket from Skanes, to expand its lead to 55-35 with 1:59 to go in the third. Before the conclusion of the third period, the RedHawks cut into that advantage somewhat, but the Eagles still entered the fourth quarter with a 57-43 edge. EMU played well near the basket, scoring 14 of its 19 points in the paint.
Eastern Michigan kept its lead before going on a 7-0 run to balloon the advantage to 70-61 with 28 seconds to go in the contest, a score that would hold for the rest of the game. Eastern took advantage of seven Miami turnovers in the quarter, scoring 10 points off of those takeaways.
Game Notes
» Skanes notched a double-double for the Eagles with 10 points and 13 rebounds. The forward now boasts 21 career double-double performances, nine of the sort have occurred this season. Additionally, it is the fifth double-double for Skanes in the last eight games.
» The Eagles held the RedHawks to only 35.9 (23-of-64) percent shooting from the field. The game is the first this season in which EMU has held a Division I opponent under 36 percent shooting. EMU has held opponents under 40 percent shooting seven times this season, including in consecutive games, the first time EMU has accomplished that feat in two straight games since doing so against Detroit Mercy, Nov. 13 (38.7%) and Grace Christian, Nov. 18 (26.4%), respectively.
» EMU never trailed after taking a 19-12 first quarter lead.
» Eastern Michigan had a 42-39 edge on the boards in the win.
» The Green and White were active in affecting shots on the defensive end, recording five blocks as a team. The Eagles have recorded at least five blocks in seven contests this season. In the 2020-21 campaign, Eastern only recorded five-or-more blocks in a game three times.
» Eastern Michigan cleaned up on the offensive glass, collecting 10 offensive boards in the game.
» Combs has now recorded double-digit scoring efforts in 63 of her 66 career games with the Green and White (95.5%). That number is the highest percentage in the Mid-American Conference.
» Combs also collected seven rebounds in the win, the ninth time she has accomplished that feat this season and the 25th occurrence of her career at EMU.
» Seven different EMU players scored at least one point in the first half. In their last home contest against Akron, the Eagles had only three players score in the first half.
» Skanes finished the night with 13 rebounds, the 22nd time in Skanes' career she has recorded a double-digit rebounding game.
» Eastern Michigan finished the game 16-of-19 (84.2%) from the free throw line. The effort was the second-best performance from the free throw line this season in terms of percentage, behind a Jan. 24 effort against Bowling Green. The Eagles sunk 18-of-21 (85.7%) against the Falcons.
» In the last nine games, Skanes is a team-leading 30-of-34 (88.2%) from the free throw line. Furthermore, she has been perfect from the line in six of those outings.
» The Eastern Michigan defense forced 19 Miami turnovers. The game is the 10th consecutive in which the EMU defense has forced 15+ opponent turnovers, the best stretch of the season for the Eagles.
» Nelson tied a career-best in field goals made (4), and hit a new best mark in steals (3).
» Eastern Michigan scored 20 bench points which was a victory of their opponent, 20-10 in the win against Miami The Eagles have scored 15+ bench points in nine contests this season, and the second time that has happened since the month of February (Feb. 9).
Historical Notes
» Tonight marked the 65th all-time meeting between the Eagles and the RedHawks. Miami still leads the all-time series 43-23
Up Notes
Eastern Michigan travels north to take on the Chippewas of Central Michigan University on Saturday, Feb. 19. The game is set for 1 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN3.
